It’s that time of year when lists of the top albums of 2010 start to pop up everywhere, largely consisting of the same albums. I’m not hoping to compete with these, just adding in my 10 cents of the albums I’ve enjoyed this year.
10. We Are The Ocean - Cutting Our Teeth
The scene is not dead! Well not quite. From my mid teens I have been a big fan the aggression and ferocity of British screamo/hardcore/rock bands. Some are indeed terrible, some are very generic, and only a couple have stayed in my most played into my early twenties, We Are The Ocean being one of them. An easy comparison can be made between WATO and Alexisonfire, the fantastic melodic voices competing with the harsh screams from either band give the music a fresh and ever changing sound. Cutting Our Teeth is a great debut album from a band that have worked hard to build a big fanbase across the country.
9. Lissie - Catching A Tiger
This tiny blonde songstress from Illinois is a force to be reckoned with. She is far from the pretty, made-up females that populate the charts these days, she likes to play her guitar and sing her heart out. Full stop. This album is a great progression to her EP Why You Runnin’?, and songs that she won’t lose that signature American-rooted sound for anyone. A girl with a great voice, and a great sound.
Favourite Track - When I’m Alone
8. Bonobo - Black Sands
This is not a great start, it’s difficult to describe this album. But what I can say about it is that it instantly captured my ears with it’s beautiful whirling melodies, basslines and synth riffs. It takes it time to unfold, but is far from a slow-starting record. This album is immensely complex with so many sounds and noises going on, yet it all fits together perfectly. Beautiful stuff.
Favourite Track - Eyesdown
7. Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
This is one of the albums that was sitting in the top 3 places in many Top 10 lists this year, and rightfully so, it’s a great album. But for me I think sitting in eighth place is about right for me. It’s a fantastic album that takes me back to the time of my childhood when I would run about in the woods, ride around on my bike with mates and just generally enjoying the freedom of childhood, yet it’s not an album I can listen to over and over for some reason.
Favourite Track - Month Of May
6. Bombay Bicycle Club - Flaws
This was probably my most anticipated album of 2010 for some time as I kept hearing live tracks being leaked and our appetites whetted prior to it’s release. And it’s beautiful, don’t get me wrong, but it’s not perfect. And it’s a shame because it’s so very close. There is not one track that I don’t love, or at least like a lot, but together as an album it doesn’t quite fit. The pace of the tracklisting is a bit all over the place, and I think with a little more care and thought, it could have been something even greater.
Favourite Track - Jewel
5. Funeral Party - Funeral Party
In a year that for me has been filled with much hip-hop and indie, it’s nice to get back to just a simple bit of rock n roll. Funeral Party a band from LA bring that messy, energetic, and riff-lead guitar based music that we all love to hear. It’s easy to image watching this band in a dingy basement with sweat and JD flying everywhere as everyone moshes and generally rocks out. It’s an old school, carefree sound that is missing in todays music. It’s an album that’s designed to be turned up loud. Super loud.
Favourite Track - New York City Moves To The Sound Of LA
4. Two Door Cinema Club - Tourist History
This is where bands should take a step back and learn how to write a debut album. This is how it’s done. Tourist History never fails to tire on me with it’s energetic, in your face indie pop riffs and beats. It’s truly something special. It’s clear that the boys from Northern Ireland have poured everything into this album, it’s carefully constructed yet it produces a far from careful sound. A deserved triumph.
Favourite Track - Cigarettes In The Theatre
3. Yeasayer - Odd Blood
It’s difficult to put the sound of Yeasayer into words. I’m a little stumped here. It’s as indie as it is psychedelic as it is inviting as it is mystifying. It’s an encapturing album that draws you in with some wonderful noise and wonderful sounds. Erm, that’ll do.
Favourite Track - ONE
2. Shad - TSOL
Shad has without doubt been my artist of 2011. From the instant that I heard the track Yaa I Get It, I loved Shad. I loved the variety of beats he raps to, his ever so clever wordplay, his conscious approach to rap, life and culture. This guy needs to get more recognition. He’s a true talent, with a dedicated fanbase. TSOL is his third album and each album gets better and better, at an unbelievably high standard. You need to pay attention to this guy.
Favourite Track - Yaa I Get It
1. Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Wow. The game has been changed people. If you haven’t listened to this album yet, I’m sorry, but you’re an idiot. This was the most hyped album (mainly by Kanye himself) of the year, and unbelievably it lived upto the hype. 2010 was Kanye West’s year. He joined Twitter to much notority, he released a free track every friday int he form of G.O.O.D Fridays for 15 weeks, he even released a Christmas song. But all of this is shadowed by this album. Despite hearing various versions of most of the tracks on the album, no one could an predicted this album. The production is second to none, the lyricals are another level of genius in places, there’s sounds and beats in there that have never been heard before. I could go on about this album forever, but for your sakes I won’t. This is the album that modern day hip-hop and rap will be measured against. Wow. The game has been changed people.
Favourite Track - Lost In The World
Honorable Mentions:
Kid Cudi - Man On The Moon 2
J-Cole - Friday Night Lights (Mixtape)
Eminem - Recovery
Foals - Total Life Forever
